GFI Introduces New Multi Bank Platform in light of Dodd Frank Legislation

The eagerly awaited Dodd Frank rulings that are shaping the future of OTC markets are showing their true sense. GFI, a leading interdealer broker has rebranded its FX options platform as a result of the new legislation. The platform is renamed GFI Direct which sits under the groups regulated entity. Under the Dodd Frank proposals off-exchange (OTC) instruments are to be traded on regulated trading venues to remove ambiguity and increase transparency in light of the global recession. FX options, currency swaps and non-deliverable forwards (NDFs) will be traded on SEFs, the treasury gave exemption to FX swaps and forwards last year (November 2012).

GFI Group Inc. (NYSE:GFIG) announced today that the FENICS FX options multi-bank trading platform “FENICS TraderSM“ will now be operated by regulated subsidiaries of GFI Group Inc. and renamed GFI Direct.

This repositioning of the Request for Quote “RFQ” platform for FX options responds to the requirements of the new regulatory environment introduced by the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations issued by the CFTC.

Paul Millward, Head of FX E-Commerce at GFI Group said: “We are delighted to be taking responsibility for building on the success of FENICS Trader under the GFI Direct brand. Our GFI Direct customers will continue to receive the high level of service that they currently receive from FENICSSM. In addition, we will develop the GFI Direct product as a key part of GFI's FX ecommerce strategy”.

GFI is trading at 3.27 in New York

Richard Brunt, Managing Director of FENICS, explained the changes: “We are making these changes in response to US regulations enacted as part of the Dodd Frank Act. This transition will not inconvenience our clients or our Liquidity Liquidity The term liquidity refers to the process, speed, and ease of which a given asset or security can be converted into cash. Notably, liquidity surmises a retention in market price, with the most liquid assets representing cash.The most liquid asset of all is cash itself.· In economics, liquidity is defined by how efficiently and quickly an asset can be converted into usable cash without materially affecting its market price. · Nothing is more liquid than cash, while other assets represent The term liquidity refers to the process, speed, and ease of which a given asset or security can be converted into cash. Notably, liquidity surmises a retention in market price, with the most liquid assets representing cash.The most liquid asset of all is cash itself.· In economics, liquidity is defined by how efficiently and quickly an asset can be converted into usable cash without materially affecting its market price. · Nothing is more liquid than cash, while other assets represent Read this Term providers with no change to their existing workflow”. Brunt continued: “GFI Direct will be available as a trading venue via the FENICS ProfessionalSM desktop, with auto population of order requests to GFI Direct and STP of post trade details for Risk Management Risk Management One of the most common terms utilized by brokers, risk management refers to the practice of identifying potential risks in advance. Most commonly, this also involves the analysis of risk and the undertaking of precautionary steps to both mitigate and prevent for such risk.Such efforts are essential for brokers and venues in the finance industry, given the potential for fallout in the face of unforeseen events or crises. Given a more tightly regulated environment across nearly every asset class, One of the most common terms utilized by brokers, risk management refers to the practice of identifying potential risks in advance. Most commonly, this also involves the analysis of risk and the undertaking of precautionary steps to both mitigate and prevent for such risk.Such efforts are essential for brokers and venues in the finance industry, given the potential for fallout in the face of unforeseen events or crises. Given a more tightly regulated environment across nearly every asset class, Read this Term and downstream processing”.

FENICS Trader was launched in February 2011.FENICS Trader is a single point of access to multi-bank liquidity for foreign exchange options. It facilitates independent FX options price discovery, offering a “many-to-many” venue for bilateral trading and execution.